LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (May 19, 2009) – Golfers who dream of literally playing golf all day can make that dream come true at Walt Disney World Resort this Memorial Day Weekend. Disney is offering golf enthusiasts the opportunity to play until their hearts are content through a special new “Play All Day” offer that is good May 22-25 at Disney’s Palm, Lake Buena Vista and Osprey Ridge courses.

LOS ANGELES – To celebrate the newly opened “American Idol Experience” attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Adam Lambert or Kris Allen will shout the famous words “I’m Going to Disney World!” immediately after being crowned the newest “American Idol” in the show’s star-studded season finale on Wednesday night, May 20, in Los Angeles.

Not only will the newly crowned Idol shout “I’m Going to Disney World!” at the spot’s conclusion, his voice also will be featured throughout the ad as he performs the iconic song, “When You Wish Upon A Star.”

With the scheduled late-September opening of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, vacationers at Disneyland Resort in California – whether Disney Vacation Club Members or overnight guests – will be able to unwind and stretch out in an environment that celebrates the influences of California’s renowned Arts & Crafts style of the late 19th and early 20th century. The villas are part of a Grand Californian expansion that also includes more than 200 new hotel rooms, a new swimming pool and underground valet parking. The hotel currently offers 745 rooms. Depicted in a rendering is the north courtyard of the Grand Californian.

The Jonas Brothers’ music video for their newly released single, “Paranoid,” debuts SATURDAY, MAY 23 (7:55 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel. The video was directed by Brendan Malloy and Tim Wheeler, who also directed the music video for their smash hit single, “Burnin’ Up.” Jonas Brothers will host a behind the scenes look at the making of the “Paranoid” music video Sunday, May 31 (6:00 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

The internet’s all abuzz with the recent announcement that Disney has invested in some land in the National Harbor project with intentions of building a hotel right outside DC. The truth is that Disney has a long track record of promoting tourism not just to its own parks, but nationwide, and that especially includes our nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

In order to promote United States visitorship abroad, Disney produced and donated a seven-minute, cross-country odyssey that tells the story of American hospitality and friendship, through the faces of this country’s greatest asset – its people. The $2.5M video is currently shown to foreign visitors at 105 American consular and embassy offices worldwide, at several of the nation’s busiest international airports (including Dulles International) and even onboard various airlines on their way to the United States.

BALTIMORE, May 19 — T. Rowe Price, in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online, today launched The Great Piggy Bank Adventure(SM) — two interactive financial education and entertainment experiences that offer lessons on the key financial themes of setting goals, saving and spending smartly, staying ahead of inflation, and diversifying your assets. The Great Piggy Bank Adventure(SM) comes to life through a hands-on, interactive experience at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot(R) at the Walt Disney World(R) Resort in Florida, and through an online virtual board game at www.thegreatpiggybankadventure.com.

Come meet the ‘rock star of illustrators,’ Matt Busch as he signs copies of his book, You Can Draw Star Wars, on Saturday, May 23 at Wicket’s Warehouse (at Soundstage 1 near the Backlot Tour entrance). Busch is a professor of Media and Communication Arts art Macomb College, north of Detroit, Michigan and will be signing his book from 11 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 6 pm.

You Can Draw Star Wars teaches you how to draw characters, vehicles, clothing, weapons, equipment and more from the world of Star Wars. You’ll also learn vital comic book skills such as penciling, inking and coloring.

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (May 19, 2009) – The Peterson Companies announced today the sale of land at its National Harbor development near Washington, DC to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Disney is considering using the 15-acre site overlooking the Potomac River in National Harbor, MD as the location for a resort hotel for families and others visiting the National Capital Region.

“We’re thrilled Disney has decided to invest in National Harbor,” said Milton V. Peterson, chairman of the Peterson Companies. “Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor and the Washington area as a top family tourism destination.”

BURBANK, Calif., May 18 — Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly opens the vault, releasing ‘The One That Started It All,’ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in high-definition Blu-ray for the first time ever, on October 6, 2009. The historic and highly-anticipated release fittingly launches a spectacular all-new product line — Disney’s Diamond Collection. Poised to transform home entertainment, just as the movie itself transformed the entire motion-picture industry upon its debut in 1937, the revolutionary new Diamond Collection brings audiences the most immersive and highest-level viewing experience, that includes unparalleled features, exclusive high definition content and updatable experiences, superior picture and sound, and much, much more. Taking home entertainment to fantastic new heights unlike anything before, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition marks the film’s first-ever high-definition Blu-ray bow, on October 6, while the standard definition will be released seven weeks later, on November 24.

The Diamond Collection debut of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will keep audiences spellbound for hours with exciting content exclusive to this historic release, presented with spectacular newly restored picture and 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound. Utilizing the latest in technology, possible only by the power of Blu-ray, the release includes “Disney Smart Navigation,” allowing the magic and personality of Disney Characters to come to life as never before. “Disney Family Play,” the ultimate interactive Hi-Def experience, offers a variety of immersive games, activities and unprecedented levels of personalization and customization features, to transform how families experience home entertainment together. The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition is a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray discs + DVD). Continue reading…